Misunderstanding over cake decoration leads to gaffe at Charleston Publix

The cake which Koscinski ordered from the West Ashley Publix (Source: Provided)

Another angle of the cake which Koscinski ordered from the West Ashley Publix (Source: Provided)

A screenshot shows what Koscinski encountered when she ordered the cake online (Source: Provided)

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) -

Cara Koscinski says she just wanted to buy her son Jacob a graduation cake from Publix, but a company policy led to a big mistake.

Even though she was alerted of the Publix policy that didn't allow profanity on cake, she clarified in her online order that her intent was "Summa Cum Laude" and not something inappropriate.

When she opened the cake from the Public on Main Road near Savannah Highway, she found "Summa --- Laude"

"A $70 cake!!," Koscinski wrote in a Facebook post. "He earned a 4.79 GPA. Publix refused to write the words Summa Cum Laude because I was using ‘profanity!’ They put three dashes instead of the word!"

Koscinski added that she had to explain the situation to her 70-year-old mother and her son was humiliated. The reason she didn't open the cake immediately is that the person who picked up the cake on her son's graduation day didn't know what was written on it.

Publix gave her a $160 gift card and apologized for the mistake, according to Koscinski. Live 5 News has reached out to Publix for comment on the situation.

Deputies are looking for a woman missing since Aug. 4. Ashley Murdaugh, 30, is around 5-foot-4 and has a cross tattoo on her hand as well as "Crazy Kid" on her ankle, a playboy bunny on her pelvis, a solid black star on her lower back and her childrens' names of "Erionna, Braylon and Erica" on one of her arms.

Deputies are looking for a woman missing since Aug. 4. Ashley Murdaugh, 30, is around 5-foot-4 and has a cross tattoo on her hand as well as "Crazy Kid" on her ankle, a playboy bunny on her pelvis, a solid black star on her lower back and her childrens' names of "Erionna, Braylon and Erica" on one of her arms.